The knight was over 6 feet tall, more than double my height, so I strained my neck to maintain eye contact. His imposing presence and the strong smell of blood, not from him, but from the carcass, made me subconsciously shrink back.
It felt rude to my life savior, so I tried to swallow the lingering fear that held my heart in its grasp, keeping it beating relentlessly, from the brush with death.
To keep myself distracted, I couldn't help but take in the features of the 1st knight I have ever had the fortune of laying my eyes upon, or encountering at that.
He had obsidian eyes that looked upon me gently, kindness and care evident in his gaze alone. His jet-black, short, and crisp hair was slicked back elegantly.
The silver armor bore the insignia of a black dragon, an unfamiliar crest to a nobody such as myself, but it spoke of being part of a much greater group that I could imagine.
Although his sword was sheathed at his side, I noticed how he kept his hand on the golden embroidered handle readily available. I might've been overthinking it, but it did seem like that.
Perhaps noticing my struggle, he bent down so we were a bit more on eye level.
"What is a child like you doing out so late? It's dangerous at night when you don't know what could be lurking in the dark."
He tore a glance at the wolf he had killed just seconds prior as he inquired.
I felt ashamed and guilty.
I have admired the noble and courageous qualities of knights for as long as I can remember. However, respecting and emulating them are 2 completely different stories. Today's incident has proven that painfully so.
He must've seen how much I was shaking, how helpless I had been on top of my lack of action to best my fears.
While wallowing in regrets and lamenting the past for what I could've done better on, I belatedly realized he was asking me a question.
Flustered, I told him the truth somewhat shyly.
"I-I was playing with my wooden sword, sir…"
I was thankful I didn't stutter too much, having embarrassed myself enough as is. Although I told myself I was training in secret, I knew I just wanted to play knight alone, away from all the other kids.
Struggling to maintain eye contact out of shame, he pulled something out from behind him.
"A wooden sword? Do you mean this one?"
My eyes lit up as I realized that my wooden sword hadn't broken in the attack prior. Even though I dropped it in the heat of the moment, it was still a rather cherished gift and the closest thing I had to help chase my dream.
As I took back the sword happily, he noticed the quick change in my expression and smiled.
"Do you like swords?"
Faced with a topic that I enjoyed and was heavily interested in, I quickly replied, a sharp contrast to my behavior earlier.
"Yes!"
"What a coincidence. So do I."
Delighted by my response, he responded in kind.
"Are you injured anywhere?" He asked, concerned as he stared at my injured shoulder, that I was still holding up as if that could ease the pain.
The shocking encounter and the rush from looming death seemed to have made me forget the pain momentarily. Reminded of its existence, it seemed to return, rushing back in floods, causing me to wince slightly from the pain.
"Let me take a look."
As he took my hand gently, careful not to move too fast, he examined the wound in which the teeth marks from the wolf grazing my shoulder lay bare. Exposed to the strong winds, the pain felt like it had intensified.
Gritting my teeth, I tried not to show any tears.
"How awful… I don't have any medicine on me, unfortunately. Can you show me back to your village? I'll take you back to your parents."
The knight kindly offered, taking me up into his arms carefully as he stood up.
Although the pain remained, I felt a lot safer in his arms. The hard metal armor made it rather uncomfortable, but, noticing my discomfort, he didn't press too hard.
"Hold on tight."
As I pointed in the direction back home rather hesitantly, afraid I'll make a mistake due to the darkness, he told me as we launched forward.
The wind that blew felt stronger than ever as I belatedly realized how fast he was moving after opening my eyes.
Strangely enough, I could barely feel much besides the wind despite the intense speed at which the trees all around us seemed to blur as they flew past.
I couldn't help wondering how that was possible on top of how a person could move with such speed.
"Come to think of it, I didn't catch your name?"
The knight remarked as he turned his eyes towards me, traversing the forest easily without looking forward.
"I'm Darragh Raufort, a black dragon knight. And you?"
"... Darius! My name is Darius"
I couldn't help but exclaim excitedly after he confirmed his identity as a knight.
A genuine knight!
Praise be my good fortune!
…
"Darius! Thank god you're safe!"
My mother cried out in joy as she embraced me tightly amidst tears that ran down her cheeks.
"I'm alright, Mom. I'm alright, see?"
It was only a few minutes later, and we had returned. Strangely enough, my parents had been outside instead of sleeping. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about getting in trouble.
However, I was more than glad to see my parents after I could've died.
"Where have you been, boy?! Why are you bleeding?!"
My father reprimanded me while secretly sighing in relief, much like the village chief did a while back.
"Bleeding? Let me see!"
My mom cried out in alarm as she carefully examined my shoulder, where the blood had dried up a bit.
I wanted to introduce the knight who had saved me first and foremost, so I tried to recast their attention.
"What a touching family." He remarked, glad to have reunited us before it was too late.
"Mom and Dad, this is the knight who saved me when I was attacked by a wolf!" I couldn't help but be proud returning home with a knight, even if I was on the receiving end.
"A knight!!"
Alarmed by the word, my parents belatedly realized another person present who had been standing by the side silently. Noticing his equipment, which was impossible to find in a backwater village, and the black dragon insignia emphasized in sharp contrast with his silver armor, they didn't doubt my words.
They started kneeling, they were so in shock.
…Wait, kneeling?
"Sir Knight! Please forgive our son just this once for whatever he may have done! We'll make sure he never does it again!"
My father pleaded instantly on all fours, desperation evident in his voice.
I had never seen my father beg for anything from anyone before. He is a strong and prideful man as well as one of the best hunters in the village. That's why it was all the more confounding that he would be kneeling before a knight who had saved my life, begging for forgiveness.
My mother had done the same, the tears from finding me safe still evident in her eyes, kneeling silently as she brought me down as well.
"Please, there is no need for such gestures, madam, sir. I haven't done anything deserving of such."
To say I was confused was an understatement. Thankfully, Sir Darragh wasn't either, as he seemed flustered, helping them both up to their feet. He then proceeded to explain the situation in which he found me and why he appeared on the outskirts of the village.
"Increased monster sightings?"
"Yes, I was returning from an expedition I had taken not far from this village when I found signs of a potential magical beast stampede."
My father and Sir Darragh were discussing the details surrounding the incident inside our house. Since he saved my life, my parents were more than welcome to offer him a place to stay since it was late out. They had repeatedly thanked him for his grace and the fortune of his timely appearance.
Unfortunately, I couldn't escape their admonishment for making them worry and the danger involved.
I was made painfully aware of how frightening my parents can be when made angry.
Now my mom was wrapping my wound in cloth while cleaning the blood stains. I wanted to listen to the conversation but my mom made me sit still, telling me that children shouldn't butt in while adults talk.
I told her I wasn't a child, but she wasn't having any of it.
"I have already requested aid from my knight order, but considering the distance and their busy schedule, it is unlikely that they'll make it in time. I am more than willing to offer my aid now that I'm already here."
"Your help would be akin to having a thousand soldiers. We can't thank you enough for lending your timely assistance in such dire circumstances, Sir Darragh."
"Please, don't mention it. Any other knight would do the same."
"Even so, I felt the need to say it regardless…You must be tired from the long journey, We have a room ready for you in the back."
"Then… I'll take you up on your offer gratefully."